The Screening at the Ziegfeld Theatre

50/50, the half-humor, half-heartbreak movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anna Kendrick, premiered last night at the Ziegfeld Theatre. Writer Will Reiser based the film on his experience coping with a cancer diagnosis as a young adult. Gordon-Levitt plays the lead character Adam—but the film is much deeper than a “(500) Days of Chemotherapy.” From breaking the news to his family, to using “I have cancer” as a pick-up line, the comedy balances on the edge between fatal and funny. Adam’s journey is perhaps best captured by his work with inexperienced therapist Katherine (played by Kendrick). Katherine is trying to perfect the art of comforting a patient—he is her third ever—and witnessing her flubs teaches Adam to take himself less seriously. “At the beginning of the movie, Adam is overly concerned with himself and uptight,” Gordon-Levitt said last night. “He eventually learns to loosen up and connect with people, though.”

On the red carpet, the men stole the show: “I like getting dressed up!” said Gordon-Levitt, in a Balenciaga suit. “I like that it becomes a special night and everyone’s sort of paying extra attention to what they say and how they behave. I mean, in our culture—everything is so casual, it’s nice to have a little elegance and a special occasion.” After the screening, the crowd moved to the Four Seasons, where Rogen’s bellowing laugh could be heard across the room, and cool couple Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl, in a vintage dress from West Village boutique Geminola and glittery Kate Spade shoes, talked about their upcoming trip to Paris for Fashion Week. “I love getting to watch the shows instead of having to be in them—it’s nice! I’m looking forward to Chanel, YSL, and Alexander McQueen. I haven’t seen an Alexander McQueen show since last year, so I’m really excited for that!”